New Members
New members that joined in April: Bruce Cuthbert/Marilyn Mair Donna Kerkhoven Returning Members Rick Searle Contents
Mac OS X at 20: The OS That Changed Everything
JOSH CENTERS 25 March 202113 comments Mac OS X at 20: The OS That Changed Everything Has it really been that long? 24 March 2021 marked the 20th anniversary of Mac OS X. For those of us who were there to witness its release, it’s stunning to think that most of...
Is It Safe to Upgrade to macOS 11 Big Sur?
ADAM ENGST 10 March 202186 comments Is It Safe to Upgrade to macOS 11 Big Sur? “Is it safe to upgrade yet?” That’s the question I’ve been asked repeatedly since Apple first released macOS 11 Big Sur in November 2020. It’s a hard question to answer because everyone’s...
iOS 14.4.2, iPadOS 14.4.2, iOS 12.5.2, and watchOS 7.3.3 Address Serious WebKit Issue
JOSH CENTERS 26 March 202119 comments iOS 14.4.2, iPadOS 14.4.2, iOS 12.5.2, and watchOS 7.3.3 Address Serious WebKit Issue While we await iOS 14.5 and related updates, Apple has released iOS 14.4.2, iPadOS 14.4.2, and watchOS 7.3.3, as well as iOS 12.5.2 to address...
In Praise of the Knock-Off Nylon Sport Loop
ADAM ENGST 19 March 202124 comments In Praise of the Knock-Off Nylon Sport Loop One of the hallmarks of the Apple Watch is its selection of watch bands and the ease with which they can be swapped. I got my original Apple Watch with the silicone Sport Band, and while...
Caller ID Authentication May Tame the Scourge of Spam Calls
GLENN FLEISHMAN 18 March 202149 comments Caller ID Authentication May Tame the Scourge of Spam Calls This morning, my iPhone rang five times. Because I pay Hiya for reverse Caller ID lookups, each number lit up with a name I didn’t know, along with the originating...
Apple’s AirPods Max Headphones Are Pricey but Good
JULIO OJEDA-ZAPATA 15 March 202111 comments Apple’s AirPods Max Headphones Are Pricey but Good Apple’s AirPods Max headphones will set you back $549. That’s a hefty price considering headphones with comparable features—such as active noise cancellation—can be...
The Role of Bootable Duplicates in a Modern Backup Strategy
ADAM ENGST 23 February 202120 comments Is it time to upgrade to macOS 11 Big Sur? I’ll write more about that soon. However, there is one general concern that has caused us to hesitate to recommend upgrading. That’s the complexity of creating a bootable duplicate of...
How to Manage Breathe Notifications on the Apple Watch
JOSH CENTERS 8 February 20218 comments I’m a big fan of breathing, and I make sure to breathe every day—it’s a great habit to cultivate. I joke, of course, but there is plenty of evidence that deliberate, controlled breathing is good for you, helping you reduce...
Ensure Sufficient Free Space before Upgrading to Big Sur
ADAM ENGST 10 February 202126 comments [Just before we published this article in TidBITS #1550, Mr. Macintosh reported that Apple has released a macOS 11.2.1 Big Sur installer that properly checks for sufficient free space before proceeding to avoid the problem...